Public debt is often discussed in technical terms, yet its consequences shape everyday life, affecting public services, economic opportunity and trust between citizens and government. When debt information is inaccessible, meaningful public engagement and accountability suffer – particularly among young people, who consume and process information differently from relatively older audiences but who will live with the long-term consequences of today’s borrowing decisions.
NDI Kenya collaborated with a talented poet to transform dense public finance concepts into a spoken word piece. The piece explores why public debt is not just an economic issue but a governance issue. Through poetry, complex finance concepts are translated into an accessible and human story, using creative expression as a tool for civic education and advocacy. By connecting abstract numbers to lived realities, the performance invites audiences to reflect on the links between debt, accountability, and civic participation.
This initiative is supported by UK International Development.
The performing poet is Phelister Amondi Awuor.
Credit: UK International Development, IEA and NDI
